FAU Among the First Institutions in
the Nation to Receive Funding for Student Scholarships to
Address Nursing Shortage

Ten scholarships for students in an
accelerated BS program in the Christine E. Lynn College of
Nursing have been awarded based on economic need and
underrepresented groups in nursing.

BOCA RATON, FL
(November 6, 2008)—The Christine E. Lynn College of
Nursing at Florida Atlantic University is among the first
institutions in the nation to receive funding from the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation (RWJF) through the
RWJF New Careers in Nursing
Scholarship Program. Ten, $10,000 grants through this
competitive program were provided to individuals in
underrepresented groups and to those with disadvantaged backgrounds
to support their full-time study in nursing. The College hopes to
increase the number of students enrolled in FAU’s accelerated
baccalaureate nursing program next year.
Grant
funding also will be used to help leverage new faculty
resources and provide mentoring and leadership development
resources to ensure successful program completion by the
scholarship recipients.

This groundbreaking national initiative, launched by RWJF and the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), aims to help
alleviate the nation’s nursing shortage by dramatically
expanding the pipeline of students in accelerated nursing
programs.

“The rising cost of living in South Florida fueled by the
cost of housing, real estate taxes, insurance and wages that have
not kept pace with inflation, has resulted in an exodus of nurses
in this area,” said Dr. Marlaine Smith, the Helen Karpalenia
Persson Eminent Scholar, professor and director of the scholarship
program in the College of Nursing. “The
New Careers in Nursing
Scholarship Program will increase the number of students who
are able to enroll in our program without having to work. Moreover,
we will help to address the nursing shortage by enabling these
students to launch their nursing careers sooner through accelerated
education.”

The
accelerated baccalaureate program in the College of Nursing
commenced in 2004, and is designed as a 12-month intensive
full-time program for individuals holding baccalaureate degrees in
other disciplines. Students complete 16 academic credits during the
summer, 19 during the fall semester and 20 during the spring
semester. The plan of study consists of approximately 32
prerequisite credits and 55 credits in upper-division nursing. In
addition to classroom, simulation and online learning activities,
students engage in approximately 20 nursing practicum hours a week
during the summer and 26-30 hours a week during the fall and spring
semesters.

Among the scholarship recipients at FAU include Carolina Zuluaga
who grew up in rural Colombia, South America, and Andres Sanchez,
one of only three males in the accelerated BS program.

“Growing up as a child in rural conditions in Colombia, I
witnessed many social injustices, political upheaval, and lack of
access to medical care,” said Zuluaga. “I’ve
always known that I wanted to work in the health professions
helping others. I am so grateful for this scholarship because it
will help me focus on my studies without having to worry about
money, and I’ll be able to join the workforce sooner than
later.”

Prior to receiving this scholarship, Sanchez was working 20-30
hours a week in addition to his clinical rotations, classes and
studying.

“With this scholarship, I can lessen the hours I work or stop
completely so that I can concentrate on my studies,” said
Sanchez. “Thanks to this scholarship, I’ll be able to
start my career in about six months.”

The
RWJF New Careers in Nursing
Scholarship Program supports accelerated programs, which offer
the most efficient route to licensure as a registered nurse for
adults who have already completed a baccalaureate or graduate
degree in a discipline other than nursing. Although enrollment in
these programs has steadily increased over the past few years, many
potential students are unable to enroll since already having a
college degree disqualifies them for receiving most federal
financial aid programs for entry-level students.

By
bringing more nurses into the profession at the baccalaureate and
master’s degree levels, the new scholarship program also
helps to address the nation’s nurse faculty shortage. Data
from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration show
that nurses entering the profession at the baccalaureate level are
four times more likely than other nurses to pursue a graduate
degree in nursing, which is the required credential to teach.

Additionally, the program targets the need to recruit students from
groups underrepresented in nursing or disadvantaged backgrounds.
According to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and
Practice, diversifying the nursing profession is essential to
meeting the healthcare needs of the nation and reducing
health
disparities that exist among many underserved
populations.

The
College of Nursing has been in existence for more than 27 years at
FAU and currently has nearly 1,300 students enrolled in its
baccalaureate, masters and doctoral (Ph.D. and DNP) degree
programs. The College has the largest graduate nursing enrollment
of any university in Florida and offers programs on three campuses
in Boca Raton, Port St. Lucie and Davie. The College has a history
of recruiting and graduating a diverse student body from
underrepresented groups in nursing. Fifty-two percent of all BS
students and 37 percent of accelerated BS students are from
racial/ethnic groups that are underrepresented in nursing and 7-19
percent are male.

-FAU-

FloridaAtlantic
University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public
university in Florida. Today, the University serves more
than
26,000 undergraduate and graduate
students on seven campuses strategically located along 150 miles
of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich
tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty,
FAU hosts ten colleges: College of Architecture, Urban
& Public Affairs, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts &
Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science,
the Barry Kaye College of Business, the College of
Education, the College of Engineering & Computer
Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate
College,
the Christine E.
Lynn College of Nursing and theCharles E. Schmidt College of
Science.